Visible index



March 12, 1929. i w. A. RINGLER VISIBLE INDEX Filed NOV-15. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L'Phillip Jamleson A 111 First Ave dson & Doe

Jackson & C01.

BQ pended Qlixns. i v invention comprises the variousdG-p s. @Matures @thrill-'be me Wm Patented 1 2, 19.29.v

wmuan A. nimma, or PHILADELPHIA, rnNNsxLvaNm, Assioma 'ro-nin atoms-.i

wrmnoxa co., A oonroanion or omo. 1

VISIBLE INDEX.

a p Animation nieaivvembei 13,1924. serial 110.749,525. l

- This invention relatesto index devices, and particularly to the type commonly known as visible indexes, inwhich a series of index cards are supported in a :frame with the free edges o f the cards. projecting one beyond'the other to leave a narrowmargin 'of the surface of each cardv ex osed, vupon which exposed portion any suita le` indexing or identifying characters, such as names, addresses, numbers, etc., may be placed so as to be always visible.;

Anobject of this .invention is to provide an improved index device in which one or a plurality of index elements may be supported upon one carrier with all of the elements movable to expose both faces; with which increased spacing at the exposed marginal edges maybe provided lin va simple,

manner at any time, for any index element; withv which any of the index elements of'a group may be laterally offset relatively to thezothers in order to distinguish them by their offsetposition; with which removable signalsfmaybe utilized in'a sim le manner vand of various sizes; with which the varions-index elements will 'remain' either fiat' or raised selectivel "with which interlock- I, l ping' of the index units to prevent telescoping may `be accomplished lin asimple andvefecE ments may be applied to or' removed from their carriers 1n a AV further objectv is to provide an improved index device which will laccomplishany 0r all 'of the above objects and which may be made from stamped sheet material;` an

expensive; A further object is to provide an improvedv follower blockihaving simple, effective and convenient means Afor securinlgl* it in various adj ustedv positions; `V and Iwhic will be relativelyfinexpensive-.

*Various other ob ects `andadvantages' will bek apparent 'fromthe following' descriftionoff'an embodiment/of the invention, an j the' novel features. will be ;particularly` pointedf out hereinafter inconnection'wt theapj tive manner; .and with which'the index ele'- lto "j for increasing lthe marginal .portion of;

which will be convenient, light infj weight, compact, durable, `and relatively .inf

ularly referred lto as thev description of fan embodiment ofthe invention proceeds. if In the accompanying drawmgsf-- l 5a Fig. 1 is an elevation of aportion of an index device lconstructed in accordance with this invention, with certain' portions broken away to better show parts beneath; Fig. 2 is -a'longitudinal sectional elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is ari/elevation of strips of the same; fk I A.. I Fig.- 4.is an end elevation offthe saine; f Fig-5 is an elevation of one of theindex units detached from the frame;"'

' Fig. 6 isa sectional p lan of thesame with, the section taken substantially along the'line I 6-'6ofFig.5;" .j

Fig. 7 is an end elevation'of the same;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectiona the same,-tlie section bein t ken substa'iitially along the line 8-8 o 5; 1 n

Fig. 9 is an elevation of one of the index elements 'detached fromf. its carrier;

I one of the carrier mounted upon a single-carrier; i Fig. 11`s a longt dial-'sectional 'eleva` l' tion of a` portion of the index'device, show- -Fig. 12 is Yair/elevation o fanjiiidex-lfunit having a special spacer strip attached there# that unit which will be exposed;f Fig.v 13 is an elevation fof v several 'units assembled together, with a special 'sgaeeron one of ythe unitsto illustratethedoii le spec-I its! f3 Tio .f

anelongate'flfetri v esiredflengthand ible sheetmateria suoli llastratd; d the,

elevation-of l ,7a Fig. 10 is a' sectional elevation' through index unit, having .two index elements..

eoing theuseof the springtongues of thel index element as resilient props .tohold-an element in upright position" simple manner without i danger of confusion.

es of elementamounteditliereon't0 inclusivet epartionla carrieifelirakien"` or l i paper or cardboard. Both ends of the strip are biturcated by central notches or slots 2, which slots or notches provide integral end tongues or arms 3 of equal width. By reason of the flexible sheet material of which the strips are made, they may be flexed laterally so as to enable them to be removed.

ceive the arms or tongues 3 of the carrierstrip 1. The tongues 3 may be inserted throughv the apertures 5 by irst flexing the carrier strip 1 until the ends of the tongues on opposite ends are broughtY together suticiently to pass the two lower tongues respectively into or through the apertures at opposite sides ot the element, whereupon, it the strip is released, it will, in straightening` out, pass the arms or .tongues 3, further through the apertures and assume the position shown in Fig. 5. lt is also possible to apply the index element to the strip by rst passing one ot the tongues through an aperture along one side ot the element and then flexing the strip to enable a tongue at the other end of `the strip to be passed 'through an aperture at the other side or" the element.

Each index element 4 is provided with two rows ot transversely extending pertorations or scorings 6 and l upon opposite sides ot an imaginary line joining the centers et the apertures 5 so as to `facilitate the bending or flexure ot the index element in a transverse direction. rlhe line ot perform tions 6 facilitates the bending of the marginal portion 8 ot the element back upon itself (as shown particularly in Figs. 5, 7 and S) to cooperate with' au adjacent carrier strip in eltecting the desired spacing between the index elements. rlhe other line of perfor-ations or sccrings Z facilitates flexure ot-the index elements, thus permitting swinging of each element upon a scored or perforated line as a hinge to expose the under face. Preferably', the line 'l' consists of scorings adjacent the edges as designated at 9 and a central portion composed at its ends ot scorings and at its intermediate portion ot a row ot pertorations 10. l Y

rlhe body ot the index element is also-cut along the lines 11, 12 and 13, (see Figs. `5 and 9) at points adjacent opposite margins of the index element, the lines 11 and 13 extending toward the carrier strip from the line? and the line 12 connecting the projecting ends of the. adjacentlines 11 and 13, thus forming tongues 11 cut out from the Amomes elements to thelr overlapping condition. y

Then the carrier strips 1 with the at tached index elements 4 are assembled between the opposite guides a; ot the frame b as shown in Fig. 1, the turned-over margins 8 will hook vover the upper edge ot the next lower carrier strip and limit the telescoping ot' the carrier strips and elements (see Fig'. 11). This causes a progressive overlapping of the index elements with a marginal portion ot the face ot each index element exposed.

lt is frequently desirable to odset one or more ot the index elements' laterally relatively to the other elements, so that by reason of the emphasis placed upon such od set elements, they may be readily located without special search. 'lo accomplish this result, the slots or notches 2 are preterably made ot sufcient length, and the carrier strips made sufficiently longer than the width oli' the index elements, te permit et the lateral shitting of the index elements upon the strips. 'lhis odsetting ot the index elements is illustrated in liig. 1' wherein the index element designated by the char acter c is offset. lt will be understood that this otisetting may be readily changed at any time by merely shitting any ot the index elements into and out of offset positions.

ln order to obtain increased spacing between any oi? the index elements, special spacing elements or strips 15 may be employed. rllhese spacing strips consist ot strips' of sheet material having apertures 1G spaced apart lengthwise a distance corresponding to the distance between the apertures 5 ot the index elements, sov thateither the used or unused tongues or arms 3 ot any carrier may be passed through the apertures 16 ot a spacer strip, and mount it as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, in which the unused or upper tongues 3 are shown` as .thus employed. Une of the longer marginal edges ot the spacer strip is spaced from the apertures 16 a .distance sufficient, when the spacer strip is mounted upon a carrier with this marginal edge projecting above the carrier, to effect the desired wider spacing between the element attached to the same carrier and the element attached to the carrier immedi ately above. The projecting edge ot the spacer strip interlocks between the turnedover marginal portion 8 and the lower por-A tion of the carrier strip of the element im- Y mediately above the same, as well as withV theadjacent portion of this upper element targets or tabs have been provided, which will be visible at the free or exposed marginal edges of the index elements when the latter are in their normal position. This idea has been disclosed and claimed broadly in my prior United StatesPatent #1,480,419, issued January 8th, 1924. In that case the signal tab consisted of an elongated piece of flexible sheet material having a folded-over end which was hooked over the z tabs were released .and frequently fell-out or became detached from position and could 'not bereplaced without searching a special record to ascertain to which index element they should -be attached.

' In the present invention, each signal target, strip, or tab d, ve, f, etc. is hooked over the folded upper edge of the related index element, beneath the carrier strip thereof, as shown in Fi 1, so that it will be held vor interlocked t ereon between the ca rrier strip and the index element. With such a mounting, the signal target orr tab will remain attached to the index element evenvthough the latter with its carrier is removed and carried about, and there is little danger that it will become unintenf tionally removed or detached from the index element to which it relates. Such a-tab or entered upon the indexelement as a perf` manent part of the record.' Accordingly with the present invention, the signa` qplained hereinbefore.' In order to strips, targets, or tabs lare formed in multiple in a single blank or sheet 17, such as shown. in Fig; 14, the sheet or blank 17 being .provided with spaced lines or perfo-l rations 18 which facilitate separation of the sheet or blank into the sections d, e, f, each section corresponding in size to the area between the perforated lines. The sheet or blank is also provided with a roW of erforations or scorings 19 which exten s transversely of the perforated lines 18, so as to facilitate the folding of the ends of the signal strips or tabs to provide the hooks byV which they may be attached to tle index elements. A

The sheet or blank is also preferably rated lines 18. By reason of the perforated line 20 Whenever a signal target or tab of a plurality of sections is detached, one may detach thev extra tip ends 21 so that but a single attention attracting end will be exposed on the visible marginal edge of the index element'.l In this manner any desired area on the signal strip or tab may be provided for carrying all of the .desired information for temporary use, and at the same time only a suilicient portion of the tab will be visible along the exposed or visible marginal edge of the' index element" to direct ,attention thereto without covering the identilication information already provided upon the exposed marginal portion of that index element.

Each index element 4 and its carrier strip 1 -together form, what may be termed anindex unit, and these index units are assembled together in interlocking relation in an index frame as shown in Fig. 1 and exrevent provided With another line of perforations which-extends transversely of the perfoseparation of the index units a suita le folf l lower block may be employed, and for this` particular purpose I have :foundv the follower block illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 to be especially valuable. This follower block comprises a sheet 22 of bendable material, l

such as heavy paper or cardboard, lfolded at 23 to form. two flaps 24and 25. The two flaps may be secured together adjacent their line of connection .or the line of fold by suitable means, such as by rivets or staples 26.4 i `targetma'y be adjusted laterally upon the This follower block thus providedl has marginal tongues Aor extensions 27 upon opposite side edges and adjacent the line of fold, these tongues serving as guides which extend 4into the usual guide grooves a'of the supporting frame b. The under iap -25 passes beneath theuppermost ,carrier strip, and the upper flap 24 passes over thev same so as to Ahold the upper carrier strip against the others and prevent its displacement upwardly. In order that access` may be had conveniently to the index elements strip 28 is provided Yofl a length approximately equal to the distance between the outer ends of the opposite tongues or guide extensions 27, but preferably approximately equal to or slightly greater than the distance between the bottoms of the opposite guide grooves of the frame in which it slides.

This wedge strip is pivoted intermediate its ends to the upper edge of thefollower block by suitable `means,lsuch as lby a metal eyelet rivet 29. The wedge strip 28 is thus rotatable about' the axis-'of the eyelet rivet 29 and when rotated into a position in which it extends between the guides of the frame the ends will enter the guides beneath the guide tongues 27 and wedge the same against the sides of the guide grooves with suiicient friction to prevent unintentional displacement of the follower block along the frame. When the length of the wedge strip is slightly longer than the distance between the bottoms of opposite guide grooves of the frame, the ends will wedge against the bottoms of the frame grooves, just before moving completely therein, `and for this reason valso hold the block against movement along` the frame.

It will be observedthat with this manner i' of mounting the index elements upon the 'posedA carrier strips, a plurality of the index elements may be applied to any one carrier strip (as shown in Fig. 10) in order to increase the effective capacity of the particular index unit, and this capacity may be decreased by the removal of the extra index elements on the same carrier when they are no longer necessary. Incase the extra index elements are utilized they may be slightly' shorter in length from the lines of perfora-` tion or-scoring 7 Iso that no matter how many of the extra elements are applied to a carrier the marginal portion carrying the identification characters will always be exposed so that the replacing of this information upon each added index element will beunnecessary. This construction is shown in Fig. 15, where a, shorter extra element is designated by the reference character 4a. If the extra index elements are of the same size as the regular elements, they may be placed beneath the regular elements when applied to a carrierso that they will not conceal the identiication or index characters upon the exelement. Also in such case the, extra index elements may be placed at the front of the regular elements, upon the upper tongues marginal edge of the regular indexV of the carriers, thereby to expose a lower margin of the regular elements.

lt will be observed that by the use of the extra spacer strips, wider exposed marginal portions of any card or index element may be obtained at any time quickly and lin an effective manner. 'This increased spacing is shown in Fig. 13. The special signal targets or tabs of any desired area may beapplied to any index elements to. carry temporary information and effectively indicate on the exposed margin the fact that such temporary information is there without covering the usual identiiication symbols upon the exposed margin of the index, element, and such signal tabs will be attached to the index elements in such a manner that they will not become accidentally or unintentionally displaced in the normal use of the index device. Any number of the index elements may be em phasized or have attention directed to them by offsetting them laterally as explained. All of theseelements will be held together in a simple manner by the follower block which is wedged in position by the wedge strip. l

vWhile it is preferable to have Vtwo tongues upon each end of the carrier strip', as illustrated, it will be understood that but a single tongue or arm at each end of the carrier strip may be utilized, and the spacer strip applied to the same arms or tongues as the index elements. It will alsobe understood that while the carrier is preferably formed of flexible sheet material in rder that any unit may be removed from the frame by merely flexing the carrier strip without disturbing the other units, and in order that the carrier strip may be more readily attached to or removed from-an index element, the invention also contemplates. the use of relatively rigid carrier strips in which case the lengths of the slots or arms upon the ends of the carrier strips are sufiieient to permit of a sliding of the index elements upon the arms until Aeither edge of the index element is removed from 'an end of the carrier strip, whereupon by a reverse sliding movement the other edge may be disengaged from the other end of the carrier. The index element may be reapplied by reversal of these movements. Where a rigid carrier is used, such carriers must be inserted or removed from the frame by first placing them in a some- 'what diagonal positiony to permit the ends' to pass beneath the guide fianges of the supporting frame. l,

It Will'be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature 'of the invention` may be made by those skilled in the art, within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended clims.

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I claim: 1. In an index device, a carrier for index `elements formed of a strip of sheet'niaterial having end ortions servin as guides, and' 2. In an index device, a carrier for index.

elements formed of a iiexible strip of sheet mateiial, having integral tongues at the end portions extending outwardly, andan index elements .having index element mounted upon said tongues. 3. In a visible index device, an index unit comprising a carrier having oppositely ex` tending'tongues spaced apart-lengthwise of the carrier, and an index element having apertures spaced apart a distance approximately corresponding to the spacing between the base portions of the tongues, the tongues extending through the apertures so as to detachably mount the index elements thereon.

4. In a visibleindex device, an index unit.v

comprising a carrier flexible in a. transverse direction and having oppositely extending tongues spaced apart lengthwise of the carrier, and an index element having apertures spaced apart a distance approximately corresponding to the spacin between the base portions of the tongues, t e tongues extending through the a ertures so as to detachably mount the in ex elements thereon.

A 5. In an index device, an index unit comprising a flat carrier, an index element secured to said carrier intermediate its margins so that it will extend in both-directions transversely of the line of attachment t0 the carrier, the portion of the element extendin beyond the line of attachment on one side being folded back`upon itself to form spacing meansI when hooked over an adjacent unit.

6. In a visible index device, an index element having apertures adjacent opposite margins b mounted', t e element also having rows of perforations upon opposite sides of and parallel to an imaginary line joining the centers of the apertures so that said rows of erforations will facilitate .bending and -lexin of the element.V

7. n a visible index device, a carrier for spaced tongues and an index element having apertures through which the ton les pass', said tongues haying lengths permitting, lateral sliding adjustment of the index elements thereon without vdisen agement therefromA whereb` any of the e ements may be laterally o set from the -others to direct attention thereto.

48. In avisible index device, a carrier for f index elements comprising a flexible strip which the element may 'be tongues extending which the tongues pass, the tongues having lengths which will permit of considerable Ilateral adjustment' of the index element 9. In a visible' index device, a carrier for 'index elements comprising a strip of-flexible sheet-material having furcated ends, and an index element havin `spaced apertures`ad-- jacent itsmargins t rough which two of the arms below the uppermost arms of the furcations at opposite-ends may be passed by iiexing'the carrier to contract the distance between the ends of the tongues, the furcations being continued lengthwise sufficiently to permit of considerable lateral adjustment of the index elements without detachment therefrom, whereby any element of the series may be laterally oii'set relatively to the others to indicate by such offset position any desired. classification.

10. In a visible index device, a carrier for index elements having furcated ends, an index element havingapertures through which arms of the furcatedends may extend to form means of attachment between the two, the portion of the element extending beneath the carrier and beyond the apertures being l folded back upon itself to provide la spacing part.

11. In a visible index device, a carrier for index elements having bifurcated ends, an index element having apertures through which the lower arms of the bifurcated ends may extend to form means vof attachment between the two while'the upper portion of the carrier forms spacin means, the portion of the element exten ing beneath the carrier and beyond the apertures being Vfolded back upon itself to provide a spacing part,`

.said carrier by said tongues so as to extend beneath the same,\and a target strip having a hooked end, hooked over the edge of the index element beneath the carrier, so as to be held in position upon the face of the4 index element between the carrier and the element. l A

13. Ina visible index device, a target blank comprising'a'sheet of fiexible material perto the other elements in. a set, to .direct attention thereto.

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forated to form strips, the sheet being also perforated adjaleent to and spaced from a margin ina direction transversely to the.`

preceding perforations, whereby a target member of any number of strips width mayv be. torn from a sheet, and any of the tip ends removed by the transverse perforations to provide an indicating tab projection on the member, having a width of one or more o f the strips as de sired.

14. In a visible index device, a follower block comprising a member having lateral are in superposed relation with the guide tongues so as tol wedge the latter in guides in which they may be disposed.

16. In a visible index device, a follower block comprising a member having lateral tongues serving as guides, and a locking strip pivoted intermediate of its ends to said member for oscillation thereon into and out of positions in which its ends extend beyond the outer ends of the tongues so as to engage the uideways in which the tongues are sliding efore moving into complete alignment with the tongues.

17. In a visible index device, a carrier having its ends bifucated to form arms of equal Width on the ends, and an index element having apertures adjacent opposite side edges through which the lower arms on the opposite ends of the carrier may be passed to effect an attachment between the carrier and element.

l18. In a visiblev index the combination with a record sheet having a holding portion, a recording portion and spaced apertures, of a sheet-carrier comprising a strip of material bifurcated at its ends to form lower portions toenter said apertures and secure the sheet carrier 'to the record sheet.

19. In a visible index, a record lsheet having a weakened portion dividing it into two portions', one by which it may be supported and the other for carrying information, said supporting portion having an opening at each end thereof adapted to receive and be supported by the ends of a sheet carrier therefor.

2Q. The combination with a record sheet having) a )weakened line on which it is foldable form a holding portion comprising a front Hap and a rear ap, the front flap having an aperture at each end, of a sheet carrier comprising a stripA of material havslotted ends to provide end portions beIow the top thereof to enter said apertures and-extend between said front and rear flaps.

21. The herein described new article of manufacture, comprising a follower block having a body portion and end guiding portions, and a locking strip pivoted to said body portioii and adapted to be brought into registry with said end guiding portions.

22. In a visible index device, a carrier for index elements having relatively upper and lower tongues, an indexelement having apertures through which the lower 'tongues may extend to form means of attachment between the two whilethe upper portion of the carrier forms spacing means, the portion of the element extending beneath the carrier and beyond the apertures being folded back upon itself to provide a spacing part, and a cooperating spacing element comprising a strip of material having apertures through which the upper tongues may pass to increase the spacing through 'the effective widening of the carrier by the strip.

23. In a visible index device, a carrier for index elements having relatively upper and lower tongues, an index element having apertures through which the lower tongues may extend to form means of attachment between the two while the upper portion of the carirer forms spacing means, the portion4 of the elementextending beneath the carrier and beyond the apertures being folded back upon itself to provide a spacing part, and a cooperating spacing element comprising a strip of flexible sheetL material having apertures through which the upper tongues may pass to increase the spacing through the effective widening -of the carrier by the strip.

24. In a visible index device, a carrier and spacer for index elements, an index element attached to said carrier, and a cooperating spacer element detachably connected to the carrier for increasing the spacing between the element mounted on that carrier and the next adjacent element;

.25. In a visible index device, an index carrier and spacer having integral tongues, and a cooperating spacing part provided `with apertures through which saidl tongues may be passed in order to support said part detachably upon said carrier. Y

26. In a visible index device, a carrier for ico index elements having relatively upper and lower tongues, an index element having apertures through which the lower tongues may extend to form means of attachment between the two while the upperportion ofthe carfrier forms spacing means, and a cooperating spacing element comprising a strip of material having apertures through which the( upper tongues may pass to increase the spacing through the effective upward widening of the carrier by said strip.`

27. In a visible index device, a carrier foi; index elements comprising a strip ofl' flexiblev sheet materiall having forked ends and' an index element having apertures through which two opposite arms below the uppermost arms of the forked ends may V pass when the carrieris flexed transversely.

28. In a visibleindex device, a carrier for index elements comprising a strip of flexible sheet material havlng forked ends, and an index element having apertu-res through which two opposite arms below the uppermost arms ofthe forked ends may ass when the carrier is flexed transversely, t e forked portion ofthe carrier extending lengthwise thereof'sufliciently to permit of a limited sliding movement of said element lengthwise spacer having a plurality of integral tongues adjacent eaci'end, an index sheet having apertures adapted to receive a pair of said tongues below the uppermost so as tobe sup- ,ported thereby, and means adapted to engage a higher pair of said tongues so as to provide increased spacing. between a lurality of` said carriers and sheets with e ges of said sheets in overlapping relation.

30. In an index device, a sheet carrierl havf v ing a plurality of integral tongues adjacent each end, an-index sheet having apertures spaced apart to receive a pair of said tongues below the uppermost tongues rey spectively at opposite ends of the carrier so as to be supported thereby, and a tongue formed on said sheet between said apertures s and, extending toward the sheet carrier for holding the recording .portion of the index sheet 1n a position to expose its under face which extends below the carrier.

@1.1m .an index device, a flexible holder strip having a plurality of integral tongues adjacent each end thereof, a record sheet having apertures into which opposite rtongues below the uppermost may be inserted when said strip is flexed transversely so thatlsaid inserted tongues vsupport said record sheet, and means for engaging a -plurality of said strips so as Ato support said i sheets in a series with edges thereo in overlapping relation.

32. In an `index device, frame means, a

series `of? record'sheets having apertures, a series of holder strips. 4havmg integral l"tongues formed adjacent the -ends thereof and adapted to detachably enter said aper- Aposition to expose their under faces which extend below the holder'strips, said tongues on the record sheets being independent of said apertures s 33, In a visible index device, a carrier for index elements having dividedends forming a plurality of arms, and an index elementI having spaced apertures through which two opposite arms on opposite ends below the u permost arms may extend respectively to eect an' attachment between the carrier and the element. Y

34. In -a visible index device, a carrier for index elements comprising a strip of flexible l'sheet material'having .its ends divided to form a plurality of arms at each end, and an index element having spaced apertures through which two opposite arms at opposite ends below the uppermost arms may `pass when the carrier is flexed trans- Versely.

In witness whereof, I my signature.

I WILLIAM A. RINGLER.

hereunto subscribe Y 

